Match packet or carton



A. w. GRAHAM. MATCH PACKET 0R CARTON. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2.4921.

Patented May 2, 1922..

ANDREW w. GRAHAM, or BUFFALO, new YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE CITY 'rrws'r 00.,

BRANCH OF THE TIIARINE TRUST 00., AS TRUSTEE, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YOB,K MATCH PACKET OR CARTON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

Application filed February 2, 1921. Serial No. 441,934.

"boxes in which matches are commonly dispensed, and which boxes are frequently carried in the pocket, the boxes are each made with an outer casing or cover open at each end and holding a drawer or sliding member wherein the matches are held. Such boxes are objectionable for various reasons,

one of which is the liability of the drawer J to slide open and thus spill the matches in the users pocket.

-A second important object of the invention is to provide a cheaply constructed match carton of improved nature and having no movable drawer, the carton being so constructed as to prevent spilling of the matches no matter how roughly it may be handled short of destruction.

The ordinary matchbox as above described is also objectionable on account of the sharp corners which are not only destructive of clothes but also cause discomfortwhen the box is carried.

A third important object of the invention is the provlslon of an improved match carton which will have rounded contours so" that it will avoid wear of clothes and be comfortable to carry.

Again, it frequently happens with the usual drawer and cover type of box that the drawer is pushed out by the user in an upsidedown position with the result that manyorall of the matches are spilt.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of match carton which canbe constructed cheaply and which will permit of the withdrawal of but one match at a time.

Another objection existing in the usual rectangular form of match box is that the striking surfaces on such'matc'h boxes are flat. WVith such flat surfaces there is a constant tendency to rub the match heads from one end to-the other of the striker thus caus- 1ng rapid deterioration of the surface so that it frequently happens that the surface is used up before the matches in the box are exhausted.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of match carton wherein thestrikingsurface will be so disposed as to permit only a short stroke of the match head on such surface.

A still further objection to the drawer and cover type of match box resides in the difficulty of sealing such boxes against dampness andthe outside air.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide an improved match carton which can be readilysealed by a simple and eflicient means so as to prevent all access of dampness to the'matches and render the container air tight.

VVith'the above and-other objects in view,

as will be hereinafter set forth, the invention-consists in general of certain-novel details of construction and combinations of parts herinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the improved match carton which is circular in shape.

Figure 2 is aplan view showing a slight modification of the form shownin Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken diametrically through the form shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line IVIV of Figure 1 and showing one arrangement of the outlet slit.

F igure 5 is a section similar to Figure 4 but showing a modified form of outlet slit.

the improved carton is circular in plan and consists, in the peculiar construction shown, of a front member 10 having adjacent its periphery a depending annular flange 11 which fits outside of a similar annular flange 12 rising from the back member 13. These flanges may either be pressed from the mill board or other material of which the front and back carton is made or may be formed separately fromsaid front and back and secured thereto as in the ordinary construction of the better class of pill boxes. In the latter case it is preferred that the front and back members overhang the flanges so as to provide guard beads 14. Between these beads is located the striking surface which may consist of suitable abrasive material applied directly to the outside of. the flange 11 or may, as shown,.consist of one or more detachable strips 15 carrying the abrasive. In the latter case if a plurality of strips is employed. they are secured by the edges only so that after one strip is used up it may be removed and the next strip beneath exposed for use. In this form the top 10 is provided with a circular opening 16 for the insertion of the thumb and forefinger of the user in withdrawing a match. In regard to this opening it is to be particularly noted that in this form and in all others the size of the opening is so proportioned with respect to the length of the matches contained in the carton that at no time can a match assume such a position in the carton that either end will be exposed beneath the opening while the remaining end is beneath the top. This prevents the matches from accidentally fallin%out of the carton through such opening.

xtending outwardly from the opening are certain withdrawal slots and in the forms above referred to these slots are of considerable width as indicated at 17. Secured beneath each side of each slot is a yieldable closure 18 preferably formed of a strip of stiff paper although other material such as metal may be used in some instances and the exact shape of this yieldable closure may also vary, it not being deemed necessary here to show or describe the many ways in which this yieldable closure may be made. However, one modification has been shown in Figures 5 and 6 wherein the slot 17 is re placed by a T shaped slit 19 so that two tongues 20 are provided from the material of the top itself one of the tongues being bent upward and the other downward as clearly shown in Figure 5.

lVith the first form the matches are withdrawn by a direct upward movement and, where the slots are alined as in Figures 1 and 7, both ends'can be withdrawn simultaneously; while with the arrangement shown in Figure 25 which permits the matches to lie at all times with one end near a with drawal s t 1 e d i i h ra n throu h raiaeae the slot and then the match moved. longitudinally to draw the other end out from beneath the top.

In the form shown in Figures 1 and 3 a rotatable false bottom 21 is provided which has small opening 22 in its center whereby the false bott m is centrally positioned on a small projection 23 struck inward from the bottom 13. By this means all of the matches may be readily rotated to bring them into position for withdrawal.

In the form shown in Figures 7 and 8 there is provided a top 24 having a clownwardly extending peripheral flange 25. The bottom 26 is beaded as at 27 adjacent its periphery and the peripheral portion beyond the bead rests against the bottom edge of the flange 25 and is there securedin any suitable manner as by gluing. This form, like those previously described, has the opening 16 withdrawal slots 17. yieldable closures 18, and striker 15.

It is to be noted that in none of the forms described does the striker present a flat surface so that only by great effort can the match head make other than a very short contact with the striker during the striking operation. This prevents rapid deterioration of the striker.

In the form shown in Figure 9 the carton has a body 28 provided with delivery slots 29 at one edge and the finger opening 16 is modified to form two oppositely disposed finger notches 30. The usual yieldable closure 31 is also provided in this form. This form may be slightly modified by making one side flat for gluing or otherwise attaching to a cigarette packet or the like and when so modified the yieldable closure may work only from one side if desired.

It will be particularly noted that due to the manner in which the match heads are at all times covered it is impossible for the matches packed in cartons of this construction to come in contact with the striking surface of any other carton.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purposes specified.

It is obvious t at minor changes may be made in the construction of the device without departing from the principles involved. It is also obvious that the device may be embodied in a wide variety of forms, both plain and ornamental. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact construction or precise forms herein shown and described but it is wished to include all such as come within the scope claimed. For instance these cartons may be made integrally with an ordinary cigarette box by pressing the cover or bottom of such box to form the body of the carton as will be readily understood.

rlsobe Home as ies a at we struction of this box it presents great re sistance to crushing and only by extreme violence can this be accomplished. Furthermore it will be obvious that these boxes mtg be readily refilled.

aving thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. A match carton consisting of a receptacle having an opening in one portion to admit an operators thumb and finger, said opening being of such size and position as to prevent the escape of a match therethrough, said receptacle also having a withdrawal slot extending from said opening and provided with spring lips forming a yieldable closure for the slot.

2. A match carton consisting of a receptacle having an opening in one portion to admit an operators thumb and finger, said opening being of such size and position as to prevent the escape of a match therethrough, said receptacle also having a pair of alined withdrawal slots extending from opposite sides of said opening and provided with spring lips forming a yieldable closure for the slot.

3. A match carton having top and bottom walls in substantially parallel relation, and a side wall connecting the peripheral portions of the top and bottom walls, said top wall having a finger opening therein and further having a withdrawal slot extending from one side of the finger opening and provided with spring lips forming a yieldable,

closure for the slot.

4. A match carton having top and bottom walls in substantially parallel relation, and a side wall connecting the peripheral portions of the top and bottom walls, said top wall having a finger opening therein and further having an alined pair of withdrawal slots extending from opposite sides of the finger opening and provided with spring lips forming a yieldable closure for the slot.

5. A match carton of circular disk like form having top and bottom walls and a side wall connecting the top and bottom walls, a thumb and finger opening in the top wall arranged centrally thereof, said top wall further having a yieldably closed withdrawal slot extending radially from the opening, and a false bottom revolubly mounted in said carton.

6. A match carton consisting of a receptacle having an opening in one portion to admit an operators thumb and finger, said carton being also provided with a withdrawal and refilling slot in operative relation to said finger opening and provided with spring lips forming a yieldable closure for the slot.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDREWV GRAHAM. 

